Education
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/adaptingworld/
DiscoverySchool.com presents this lesson plan based on Adapting to the World, a Discovery Channel documentary that includes a segment on the domestication of dogs. Designed for grades 6-8, the lesson covers the evolution of dogs from wolves and the creation of specific breeds for specific tasks. The lesson plan works quite well without viewing the program, thanks to well-outlined activities and substantial set of print and online resources. The Web site also includes a helpful glossary and ideas for extension activities based on other segments from Adapting to the World. [RS]
This Rutgers University Web site contains a set of online biology labs each so detailed and comprehensive, they could nearly replace the real thing. Each virtual lab contains pages and pages of background information and procedures, helpful images and diagrams, online exercises, and more. Seven labs are currently available: Cell Structure, Cell Reproduction, Protists, Plant Evolution, Angiosperm Reproduction, Transport Systems in Plants, and Chromosome Structure and Meiosis. [RS]
http://oceanlink.island.net/biodiv-web/cover%20page.html
The Marine Biodiversity Activity Resource Guide for Teachers comes from OceanLink, a Web-based feature created by the publication department of the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre in British Columbia. The Resource Guide contains two lesson plans, extension ideas, and loads of background information on marine biodiversity. No specific grade levels are indicated for the lesson plans, but their flexible, open-ended format should be suitable for a range of grades. [RS]
Rice University presents Medical Mysteries (or MedMyst for short) "an Internet-based adventure...in which you are on a mission to discover the causes of diseases." Designed for middle and high school students, MedMyst offers an engaging, multimedia approach to learning about infectious diseases and the immune system, as well as pharmacology, chemistry, public health policy, and more. MedMyst also includes three downloadable mini-labs that expand on concepts covered in the multimedia adventure. The Web site also includes loads of useful links. [RS]
http://www.lung.ca/children/index_kids.html
This Web site from the Canadian Lung Association contains an excellent collection of learning resources about the respiratory system for grades 1-12. Content varies according to grade range; for instance, the section for grades 1-3 covers basics of lungs and their function with an illustrated story, coloring book, interactive games, and downloadable worksheets. Older students focus in on smoking, air pollution, and other issues in addition to covering respiratory system biology. As with the section for grades 1-3, resources for older students include loads of extras, such as word games and online quizzes. The site also offers a helpful teachers' guide. [RS]
http://www.madsci.org/~lynn/VH/
The MadSci Network, offered through Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, offers a fascinating tour of the human body using digitized images generated by the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project. The tour begins with an introduction to the different planes of section, and offers tips on getting a 3D sense of structures from 2D cross sections. The tour continues with the digitized images, thoughtfully accompanied by descriptive details (click on a structure for these "interactive annotations." [RS]
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/contrast/cover.html
From the recently launched SmithsonianEducation.org Web site comes an excellent set of learning resources based on Exploring Marine Ecosystems, a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The activities and lesson plans in Contrasts in Blue help students explore two distinctively different marine ecosystems: the Caribbean coral reef and the rocky coast of Maine. The Web site provides a detailed introduction complete with hypertext links for exploring specific concepts in more detail. The lesson plans "encourage students to consider the role of temperature, sunlight, waves, and tides in the creation of unique marine environments," and include downloadable worksheets. [RS]
In this AskERIC lesson plan asks 4th and 5th graders to brainstorm behaviors they've seen that are harmful to the environment. Students then "create pictures and write short paragraphs illustrating and describing the behavior and ways to accomplish the same behavior without harming the environment." The lesson requires one class period to compete, and comes with a downloadable "post-activity handout" to help with assessment. [RS]
